Thermal cut-out.



PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

T. VARNEY;

THERMAL OUT-OUT.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 24,1904.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented July 11, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE VARNEY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

THERMAL CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,435, dated July 11, 1905.

Application filed June 24, 1904. Serial No. 214,038.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE VARNEY, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thermal Out-Outs, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to cut-outs for electrical circuits, and particularly to devices of this general character that em body fusible conductors and supporting and protecting means therefor.

The objectof my invention is to provide a thermal cut-out which shall be comparatively simple and compact in construction, the parts of which may be readily assembled and as readily detached from each other, and in which danger from arcs caused by the blowing of fuses may be substantially eliminated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in side elevation, of a cut-out constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of one of the members of the cut-out, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the other member of the cut-out.

The cut-out which I have devised and which constitutes the subject-matter of this application comprises two principal members namely, a fuse-holding block 1 and a supporting-block 2. Both of these blocks are formed of some suitable non-conducting materialsuch, for example, as porcelainand the fuseholding block comprises a body portion 3, a knob or handle 4 at one side of such body portion, and a projection or plug 5, of frustoconical form at the other side, having laterally-projecting wings or flanges 6. The block 1 is also provided with two curved side projections 7, to the outer faces of which are fastened angular contact-terminals 8. Between the body portion 3 and each contact-terminal 8 and extended also to one side of such terminal is a lug 9, having a curved face 10, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The projection or plug 5 is provided with a groove 11, that extends longitudinally along both of its sides and also across its end, and in this groove is located a fuse-wire 12. Each of the side projections 7 is undercut adjacent to the groove 11, as indicated at 13, and through this undercut portion the fuse-wire 12 extends to the contact-terminals 8, its ends being fastened to such terminals by binding-screws in the usual manner.

The supporting-block 2 is provided with two perforated lugs or bosses 14 for use in supporting the device in the position where it is to be used, and at its outer end it is provided with a circumferential groove 15 for supporting the line-wires, which are connected to the fuse 12 by means of the contact-terminals 8 on the block 1 and the contact-terminals carried by the block 2, which will be hereinafter described. The block 2 is also provided with a central chamber 16 of substantially the same form and dimensions as the projection 5 of the block 1, but having lateral recesses 17 to receive the wings or flanges 6 of the projection 5, the recesses being of materially greater width than said wings or flanges in order'that the block 1 may be given a limited circumferential movement after insertion in the block 2. The block 2 is provided also with two relatively shallow side chambers 18, between which and the central chamber 16 are walls 19, that are flush with the face of the block. Each of the chambers 18 is provided with a ledge 20, upon which is fastened a conducting-plate 21, having' a binding-post 22, to which the line wires are fastened, and having fastened to the end opposite the binding-post 22 a conducting strip 23, the free end of which is spaced from the strip 21 a sufficient distance to receive between the free ends of the contact terminals 8, and thus make close electrical contact between such terminals and also a mechanical locking engagement which will serve to support the block 1 securely in position.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the fuse-wire 12 is supported exclusively upon the block 1 and that when this block is inserted in position and given a partial turn it will be not only supported in position, as above mentioned, but the fuse will extend through a comparatively long and circuitous path and that the terminals will be separated from each other and from the main portion of the fuse by the walls 19, that separate the terminal-holding chambers from the central chamber, in which the principal part of the fuse is located. It will be apparent, therefore, that when the fuse is blown the arc will blow directly out of the said chamber and will have little, if any, tendency or opportunity to injure the contact-terminals or adjacent apparatus.

The details of construction, as regards form and dimensions of parts, may obviously be varied without departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A cut-out comprising a supporting-block having a deep central chamber and two relatively shallow side charnhers that are separated from the central chamber by partitions or walls and are provided with contact-terminals, and a fuse-holding block having a central projection provided with a groove to receive the fuse-wire and having side projeetions provided with contact-terminals adapted to make locking engagement with the terminals in said block.

2. The combination with a supportingbloek having a deep central chamber comprising a frusto-conical portion and lateral recesses opening thereinto and having relatively shallow side chambers provided with contactterminals, of a fuse-holding block having a handle and three projections corresponding generally in form, dimensions and location to the recesses in the supporting-block, the central projection being provided with a groove and the side projections with terminals for a fuse-wire.

3. The combination with a supportingblock having a deep central chamber and two relatively shallow side chambers that are separated from the central chamber by partitions or walls and are provided with contact-terminals, of a fuse-holding block comprising a grooved central projection, two side projections having contact-terminals adapted to make locking engagement with the contactterminals of the supporting-block, and a knob or handle.

4:. The combination with a fuse-holding block comprising a body portion, a central projection having a groove extending longitudinally along its sides and across its free end and having laterally-projecting wings or flanges, and side projections provided with contact-terminals, of a supporting-block having a central chamber to receive the central projection on the fuse-holding block and side chambers having contact-terminals with which the contact-terminals of the fuse-holding block make engagement.

5. The combination with a fuse holding block comprising a body portion, a longitudinally-grooved, frusto-conical projection having side flanges and relatively short side projections having contact-terminals, of a supporting-block having a deep, central chamber comprising a portion of approximately the size and form of the fuse-holding-block central projection and lateral recesses of materially greater width than the side flanges of said projection and having side chambers provided with contact-terminals to be engaged by the contact-terminals on the fuse-holding block.

6. The combination with a fuse-holding block having agrooved central projection pro vided with side wings or flanges and having relatively short side projections provided with external contact-terminals, and a fuse-wire located in the groove of the central projection and extending beneath the side projections to the contact-terminals, of a supporting-block having a central chamber and side chambers provided with contact-terminals, said chambers corresponding to the projections of the fuse-holding block and being of such dimensions that a limited circumferential movement of the fuse-holding block may be effected to look its contact-terminals to those of the supporting-block.

7. The combination with a supporting-block having a deep central chamber comprising a frusto conical portion and lateral recesses opening thereinto and having relatively shallow side chambers provided with contact-terminals, of a fuse-holding block comprising a handle, a longitudinally-grooved projection provided with side wings and fuse-wire terminals that make locking engagement with the supporting-block terminals.

8. The combination with a fuse holding block comprising a body portion, a central projection having a groove extending longitudinally along its sides and across its end and having laterally-projecting wings or flanges and provided with contact-terminals, of a supporting-block having a central chamber to receive the central projection on the fuse-holding block and side chambers having contactterminals with which the contact-terminals of the fuse-holding block make engagement.

9. The combination with a fuse holding block comprising a body portion and a longitudinallygrooved frusto-conical projection having side flanges and contact-terminals, of a supporting-block having a deep central chamber comprising a portion of approximately the size and form of the fuse-holding-block central projection, lateral recesses of materially greater wid th than the side flanges of said projection and having side chambers provided with contact-terminals to be engaged by the contact-terminals on the fuse-holding block.

10. The combination with a fuse-holding block having a grooved central projection pro vided With side Wings or flanges and having block may be effected to lock its contact-terexternal contact-terminals and a fuse-Wire lominals to those of the supporting-block. l cated in the groove of the central projection In testimony whereof I have hereunto suband connected to the contact-terminals, of a scribed my name this 4th day of June, 1904:.

5 supporting-block having a central chamber THEODORE VARNEY.

and side chambers provided with contact-ter- Witnesses: minals and of such dimensions that a limited. C. L. BELOI-IER,

circumferential movement of the fuseholding BIRNEY HINES. 

